Leather polishing wheel



Oct. 27, 1931.

C. L. RETTMAN LEATHER POLISHING WHEEL Filed 001;. 25. 1929 a w] ,..liiii" iii Ill H Fatented Oct. 27, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CORNELIUS L. RETTMAN, OF MEROHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY LEATHER PG'LISHING- WHEEL Application filed October 25, 1929.

This invention relates to wheels for polishing the edges of leather pieces which have been shaped and prepared for, and prior to, the polishing operation.

Prior to my present invention it has been customary to employ metal wheels for polishing the edges of leather pieces, and in some instances to heat the wheel, the edge of the piece having had suitable prepara- 10 tion or dye applied thereto before polishing.

My present invention compri es the use of a hard wood wheel for polishing the edges of the leather pieces which may or may not have had dye or other preparation applied thereto, prior to the polishing thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged side view of a wheel made in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a face view of the single groove wheel shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a similar face view of a wheel having a plurality of grooves.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a disc or wheel made of hard wood, having the grain of the wood extending parallel to the axis of the wheel. In the periph ral face 2 of the wheel 1, I provide one or more grooves 3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively, each of which is shaped to conform to the shape of the edge of the leather piece to be polished, the width of the groove corresponding substantially to the thickness of the piece of leather to be polished. In the center of the wheel is formed an opening or bore 5, adapted to receive a spindle or mandrel upon which the wheel is adapted to be secured for rotation.

The principal feature of my present invention resides in the use of a special hard wood, which is generally known as lignum-vitae. This wood has a very close grain and at and surrounding its heart contains a natural oil which I have found by extensive experiment with wooden polishing wheels has the peculiar characteristic of producing a polish on the edge of the leather which is far superior to that obtained by any of the other known woods, and far superior to the polish obtained by either a heated or cold metal wheel.

Serial No. 402,529.

For the purpose of taking advantage of this peculiar characteristic I cut from a suitable piece of heart wood, that is a piece which includes the center or heart of a limb of the tree from which this wood is obtained, a piece having a thickness equal to the width of the wheel to be formed, it being noted that the cut is made at right angles to the grain of the wood so that the said grain will extend substantially parallel to the axis of the finished wheel.

At approximately the center or heart of this cut piece the same is bored as indicated 5, for the reception of a suitable spindle or mandrel and thereby establishing the axis of rotation for the finished wheel at a point coincident with the heart of the wood piece, so that the natural oil at and around the heart of the wood will be equally distributed around the peripheral or polishing face of the wheel when completed. The piece is then turned to the desired diameter and the grooves formed therein for receiving and polishing the edges of leather pieces.

The friction created by contact with the piece of leather being polished draws this natural oil toward the polishing surface and this tends not only to polish the leather but also to prevent burning of the leather by the friction created.

I claim:

A leather polishing wheel composed of a hard wood known as lignum-vitae having a natural oil at its heart, the axis of the wheel being substantially coincident with the said heart of the wood, and the grain of the wood extending substantially parallel to the axis of the wheel.

CORNELIUS L. RETTMAN. 

